The government has channelled RM1.5 million in aid to assist the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi and Lombok, in Indonesia, said Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

She also said that the National Disaster Management Authority (Nadma) has raised RM5.4 million from the public and corporate organisations to be channelled to the victims of the tragedy.

“The contributions are really helpful because they (survivors) have to search for other victims, rebuild their families and ward off diseases such as malaria,” she said to reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Wan Azizah added that Indonesia is most appreciative of the contribution from the government and people of Malaysia.

Earlier, she received a contribution of RM315,000 from the Johor government for the Indonesian victims The aid was handed over by Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian.

Osman said it is hoped that the contribution will help the victims to get on with their lives.

“The amount is not big. It is a gesture of sympathy from a neighbouring country,” he said.

Malaysian trucks bring smiles to Palu folk

Meanwhile, the sight of 10 Malaysian trucks on the streets in Palu today brought smiles to the grief-stricken victims of the devastated city on the island of Sulawesi today.

The trucks draped with the Jalur Gemilang arrived bearing 3,000 food packs, 2,000 hygiene packs, 2,000 packs containing prayer mats and attire in addition to infant formula, baby diapers and sanitary napkins.

The aid is part of the second humanitarian mission by the Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisation (Mapim).

The trucks loaded with the the supplies arrived in Palu after travelling over 900 kilometres from Makassar which took 37 hours.

The relief items will be distributed to the quake and tsunami victims around Palu tomorrow.

An earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale and a tsunami struck Sulawesi on Sept 28, claiming over 2,000 lives and displacing more than 30,000 people.

On Aug 19, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked Lombok.

- Bernama